For now let’s just run through the most simple ones that you can memorize quickly.

Wo?

Where?

vo

Wann?

When?

van

Wie?

How?

vee

Warum?

Why?

va-room

Wer?

Who?

vair

Welches?

Which?

vel-shes

Wo ist...?

Where is...?

vo ist

Wie viel?

How much?

vee feel

Wie viele?

How many?

vee feel-e

Was ist das?

What's that?

vass ist dass

Mini Quiz 2

1. How do you ask “why?” in German?

Click to reveal the answer

Warum?

2. What does “wo ist..?" mean

Click to reveal the answer

“Where is..?”

3. True or false: wie in German means who

Click to reveal the answer

False. It means “how”

Expressing likes or dislikes

In daily life, you’ll always be faced with different choices. Which one should you take? Which one do you like? Do you hate the one in front of you? Speak your mind with these simple German phrases!

Ich hätte gern...

I'd like...

ixh hett-er gairn...

Ich möchte...

I want...

ixh merxht-er

Es gefällt mir.

I like it.

ess ge-felt meer

Es gefällt mir nicht.

I don't like it.

ess ge-felt meer nixht

In Ordnung/Einverstanden.

OK/Agreed.

in ord-noong/iyn-fer-shtan-den

Das ist gut.

That's good / That’s fine.

dass ist goot

Ich will/Wir wollen...

I want/We want...

ixh vill/veer voll-en

Ich bin/Wir sind...

I am/We are....

ixh bin/veer zint

Ich habe/Wir haben...

I have/We have...

ixh har-ber/veer har-b

Mini Quiz 3:

1. To say “I want...” in German, you say:

Click to reveal the answer

Ich möchte…

2. Das ist gut means

Click to reveal the answer

That’s good / that’s fine

3. When you like something, you say:

Click to reveal the answer

Es gefällt mir.

Speaking Difficulties

When you’re in a place where you don’t speak the language that well, there’s bound to be some conversational hiccups. Solve any speaking difficulties you might have with the help of these useful phrases.

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Do you speak English?

shprêH-en zee êng-lish?

Ich kann nicht [so gut] Deutsch sprechen.

I can't speak German (well).

eesh kahn nikht [zo goot] doytsh shpreH-en

Ich verstehe nicht.

I don’t understand.

ixh fair-shtay-er nixht

Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?

Can you repeat that please?

kern-en zee dâs bi-te
vee-der-hoh-len?

Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?

Would you be able to speak slower please?

kern-en zee bi-te lâng-zâm-er
shprêH-en?

Needing Help

Need help finding your way around? Or perhaps it’s a different type of emergency? Here are some basic German phrases to help get you un-stuck!

Würden Sie mir bitte helfen?

Would you help me please?

vuer-den zee meer bi-te
hêl-fen?

Ich weiß nicht

I don't know

ixh viyss nixht

Ich habe mich verirrt.

I'm lost.

eesh HAH-buh meesh fer-EERT

Kannst du/Können Sie mir das auf der Karte zeigen?

Can you show me on the map?

kahnst doo/KOON-en zee meer dahss ouf dayr KAHR-tuh TSIGH-gen?

Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus.

I don’t know my way around here.

iH kên-e miH heer niHt ous.

Mini Quiz 4

1. Ich verstehe nicht means

Click to reveal the answer

I don’t understand.

2. How do you say “I’m lost” in German?

Click to reveal the answer

Ich habe mich verirrt.

3. Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? Means

Click to reveal the answer

Would you help me please?

Conclusion

There you go with the most basic survival words and phrases in German. With these in your back pocket, you’re ready to take on a few conversations in German--with correct pronunciation, too!

To expand your vocabulary and boost your reading and listening skills, check out German short stories below!